- Née:
- Elizabeth Kortright
- Born:
- June 30, 1768, New York, New York [U.S.]
- Died:
- September 23, 1830, Oak Hill, Virginia, U.S. (aged 62)
- Title / Office:
- first lady (1817-1825)
Elizabeth Monroe
-
Who was Elizabeth Monroe?
Elizabeth Monroe (1768–1830) was the American first lady during the presidency of her husband, James Monroe, from 1817 to 1825. Before becoming first lady, Elizabeth gained recognition in Paris for saving Marie-Adrienne Lafayette from imprisonment. As first lady, she was noted for her beauty and elegance, but her aloofness and preference for European customs made her unpopular. She discontinued the custom of paying social calls on the wives of legislators, which led to social tensions. Elizabeth is remembered for selecting new furniture for the White House after its rebuilding in 1817, favoring French style and craftsmanship.
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When did Elizabeth Monroe serve as First Lady of the United States?
Elizabeth Monroe served as First Lady of the United States from 1817 to 1825 during the presidency of her husband, James Monroe. Although noted for her beauty and elegance, her aloofness made her unpopular.
As first lady, Elizabeth declined to make social calls on legislators’ wives, which was considered insulting. She also insisted on a private ceremony for her younger daughter's wedding in 1820, further annoying Washington society.
Elizabeth Monroe is remembered for selecting new furniture for the presidential mansion when it was rebuilt in 1817 after the British destroyed it during the War of 1812. She and James Monroe instructed an agent in Paris to spend a special congressional appropriation there because she greatly appreciated French style and workmanship.
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Who was Elizabeth Monroe married to?
Elizabeth Monroe, an American first lady from 1817 to 1825, was married to James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States. They wed in New York on February 16, 1786, and then relocated to Fredericksburg, Virginia, where James practiced law.
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What were some of Elizabeth Monroe's main responsibilities as First Lady?
As First Lady (1817–1825), Elizabeth Monroe was known for her beauty and elegance, but her aloofness made her unpopular. She did not follow the precedent set by her predecessor, Dolley Madison, of initiating social calls on legislators’ wives, which was considered insulting.
Monroe is remembered for choosing new furniture for the presidential mansion when it was rebuilt in 1817 after its destruction during the War of 1812. Having developed an appreciation for French style, she and President James Monroe instructed an agent in Paris to spend a special congressional appropriation there.
By 1829, the role of the president’s wife was clear: hostess and social leader, keeper of the presidential residence, and role model for American women.
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How did Elizabeth Monroe's background influence her role as First Lady?
Elizabeth Monroe's experiences significantly shaped her role as First Lady. Her time abroad, particularly in France, greatly influenced her taste and preferences, leading to a noted appreciation for French style and etiquette. While in France, she garnered the moniker "la belle americaine" and used her popularity to save Marie-Adrienne Lafayette from prison.
However, her preference for European customs and perceived aloofness made her unpopular among Washington society. Monroe discontinued the practice of paying courtesy calls, further alienating her from the social norms of the time. Despite the criticism, she left a lasting mark by selecting new furniture for the rebuilt presidential mansion, showcasing her refined taste and appreciation for French craftsmanship.
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What lasting impact did Elizabeth Monroe have on the role of First Lady or American society?
Elizabeth Monroe, as First Lady from 1817 to 1825, had a notable but controversial impact on the role. She appealed to elitists by emphasizing elegance and refinement, setting a standard for the presidential family to embody the "very best" of American society.
However, her aloofness and preference for French style, developed during her time in Europe, made her unpopular with many Americans who favored a more egalitarian approach. Unlike her predecessor, Dolley Madison, Elizabeth discontinued social calls on legislators' wives, causing considerable irritation within Washington society.
Despite the criticism, Monroe is remembered for her role in selecting furniture for the rebuilt presidential mansion, acquiring French pieces that later became prized possessions. While her tenure was marked by a departure from the inclusive social norms set by previous first ladies, she left a lasting mark on the aesthetic of the White House.
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Elizabeth Monroe (born June 30, 1768, New York, New York [U.S.]—died September 23, 1830, Oak Hill, Virginia, U.S.) was an American first lady (1817–25), the wife of James Monroe, fifth president of the United States. Although she was noted for her beauty and elegance, her aloofness made her unpopular.
Elizabeth Kortright was the daughter of Lawrence Kortright, a wealthy merchant who lost much of his fortune during the American Revolutionary War, and Hannah Aspinwall Kortright. With a reputation as a petite beauty, Elizabeth met James Monroe while she was still in her teens and he was serving as a congressional representative of his native Virginia in New York City, then the nation’s capital. They married in New York on February 16, 1786, and moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia, where he practiced law.
In 1794 James was named American minister to France, and Elizabeth accompanied him to Paris on her first trip to Europe. In Paris her charm, beauty, and flair for fashion made her very popular, and she was dubbed la belle americaine. In a dramatic gesture, she used her popularity to save the life of Marie-Adrienne Lafayette, the wife of the marquis de Lafayette, the French revolutionary leader who assisted the United States during the American Revolution. Lafayette had been imprisoned when her husband fled France, and the Monroes hoped to show their gratitude to him by obtaining his wife’s freedom. Riding through the streets of Paris to the prison where Madame Lafayette was being held under a death sentence for treason, Elizabeth requested a visit, and the two women embraced in public; soon afterward Lafayette was released.
After six years in Virginia (1797–1803), the Monroes returned to Europe, where they lived in Paris and London for the next four years. Elizabeth’s experiences abroad during this period influenced her greatly but also harmed her image among the American public, which came to regard her as too European and elitist. Elizabeth, for her part, preferred to distance herself from people she considered unsophisticated.
This attitude affected her reputation as first lady. Her refusal to follow the practice of her predecessor, Dolley Madison, by initiating social calls on legislators’ wives as they arrived in Washington, D.C., was so insulting to the women that they prevailed on their husbands to bring the matter to the president’s attention. It was resolved in Elizabeth’s favour at a meeting of the cabinet in December 1817, but she soon faced other problems. When her younger daughter married in 1820, she insisted on keeping the event private, thereby annoying Washington society. Moreover, Elizabeth often fled the capital, saying she was ill, to stay with her daughters. Washingtonians reacted by boycotting the few parties that she hosted, and they lamented the loss of the egalitarian atmosphere that prevailed in the White House under the Madisons.
Elizabeth Monroe is best remembered for her role in choosing new furniture for the presidential mansion when it was rebuilt in 1817 (after its destruction by the British during the War of 1812). Elizabeth had developed a great appreciation for French style and workmanship, and she and the president instructed an agent in Paris to spend a special congressional appropriation there. When the White House was refurbished in the early 1960s, these purchases were considered some of its finest holdings.
After leaving Washington, the Monroes retired to their estate in Oak Hill, Virginia, where Elizabeth died in 1830. She and James, who survived her by less than one year, were buried beside each other in Richmond, Virginia.
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